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alala Yousafzai, 17, from Pakistan and 18-year-old Joshua Wong from Hong Kong shocked the world with their bravery in fighting for education and democracy.

The two teenagers came to the frontline of global campaigns to provide the two most fundamental human rights, not just for people of their generation but for everyone still facing difficulties in accessing proper and adequate education and democracy.

We have selected these two names as part of the commemoration of International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10, because the two teenagers, especially Yousafzai, have been able to reach out and push world leaders to ensure that all children can freely exercise their right to education.

Wong also grabbed global attention through the people of Hong Kong'€™s struggle, to convince the world of the urgency for countries to adopt democracy where all citizens have the right to be equally treated by their state.

Both Yousafzai and Wong represent a very young generation that wants to have a say in determining their own future and not just depend on adults'€™ generosity.

Their role and influence have gone far beyond the norm for their age group.

Yousafzai almost lost her life when the Taliban shot her in the head to silence her campaign against their widespread, violent actions to end education for girls.

On Wednesday, together with 60-year-old Kailash Satyarthi of India, Yousafzai shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for their tireless fight to ensure all children receive an education regardless of their religion, gender and social status.

The Indian activist represents responsible citizens of the world who dedicate their lives to providing education for all children.

As reported by Associated Press, the Nobel laureates, who split the US$1.1 million award, were cited for working to protect children from slavery, extremism and child labor at great risk to their own lives.

'€œThe prize is very important for millions and millions of our children who are denied their childhood,'€ Satyarthi said Tuesday in a joint press conference with Yousafzai. '€œThere are children who are bought and sold like animals, who are made hostages, who are made child soldiers. This is an honor for them all.'€

'€œCountries do have borders. It doesn'€™t mean that you should hate each other,'€ Yousafzai said. '€œIf they were here, I would have said to them [leaders] to make education the priority together.'€

Meanwhile, Wong, who was named one of Time magazine'€™s most influential '€œTeens of 2014'€ said young people should persistently fight for their rights: '€œIf you don'€™t persist, then it'€™s only more likely that they won'€™t listen to you,'€ he said.

Both teenagers have enlightened the world and reminded us that young people not only have rights but also need to fight for the future, a future that is determined not just by adults but also youths.